Infolive.tv Special - Asking Gilad Schalit For Forgiveness

Hours before Israel’s holiest Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, thousands gathered in Rabin’s Square in Tel Aviv on Monday night to ask IDF soldier Gilad Schalit’s forgiveness. Schalit has been held captive by Hamas in Gaza for almost two and a half years. Infolive.tv brings you the pictures and sounds of the rally, without translation allowing you to participate in the event as though you were there. Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger read a special prayer calling for Schalit’s safe return at the rally and intends to distribute it on Tuesday, to be read in synagogues throughout Israel on Yom Kippur and weekly on Shabbat after the Torah reading. Schalit’s father Noam also addressed the crowd as well as Shlomo Goldwasser whose son Udi was killed by Hizbullah who held his body for two years before it was returned. Looking at the crowd gathered before him, Goldwasser declared “tonight I am not Udi’s father as most people knew him, but simply a frustrated citizen who is upset that the Israeli government appears to care more for the rights of those in Gaza then Gilad.” For The 834 days Gilad has been held captive said Goldwasser, elected government officials appear to be more concerned about their seats, the global financial crisis and the national budget, everything except working towards securing Gilad’s release he said. Gilad’s father Noam got up on stage towards the end of the rally to thank the thousands present. “Public support has grown as the days have passed and it has given us the strength to continue our seemingly endless fight for Gilad, thank you." 10/07/08